Feb. 7 is National Girls and Women in Sports Day, a day to celebrate females in sports. For Cherokee County, this celebration of high school varsity players came two days early.

“Cherokee County’s National Girls and Women in Sports Day was started 13 years ago by Tonya Sebring as a way to celebrate the beginning of Title 9 and all of the things that this brought to females in athletics and education,” Victoria Carter, head softball coach, said. 

In the past few years, the National Women in Sports Day ceremony is a senior project passed on to someone every year. This year, Laiken Wade from Cherokee High School took over. Each school in the region had a senior represent them and announce the female sports 2017 achievements; Etowah’s was Jessie Cohen, volleyball player. Alumni from each school present the award to the athlete of the year and the team of the year. 

“My favorite part of the day was getting to hear about all of the school’s accomplishments and being able to spend it with friends,” Maddie Froman, competitive cheerleader and senior, said. 

Skylar Wallace, Etowah’s Athlete of the Year, will continue to play softball at University of Alabama next fall. Etowah’s softball and volleyball teams shared Team of the Year honors this year.  

“It’s an honor being named Athlete of the Year my senior year at Etowah, something I will always remember and cherish,” Wallace said.  

After the ceremony, the ladies lunched together at Longhorn Steakhouse yet got back to school in time for practice.